Reference Management Software Comparison - 5th Update (June 2015) This document and its content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 1
Reference Management Software Comparison Compiled by: Dörte Böhner (HSU Hamburg), Thomas Stöber (LMU München) and Astrid Teichert (TUB München) July 2009. Updated by Dorothea Lemke (TUB München), Jana Votteler (HAW Hamburg), Katja Tietze (TUB München), Michael Ladisch (UCD Library) und Patrick Frauenrath (UB Augsburg) June 2015. Version: June 2015 (5., updated version) Content: > Key questions > General: Provider / URL, current version, licence model, cost, language > Technical Specifications: Installation, platform / operating system, mobile app, character coding, max. number of records, max. online storage space for web-based applications > Import I: Database search, import of references > Import II: Export from databases, capturing metadata from websites, other import options > Data Format: Document types, fields > Editing I: Indices, completion of metadata, interconnections > Editing II: Linking / connecting references, duplicate checking, global changes, folders / groups > View, Search: View, sort, search > Collaboration: Sharing, jointly editing, social networking > Citing: Citation styles, generating bibliographies (static), word processor integration (dynamic) > Miscellaneous: Export, other features, remarks > Ease of Use: Performance, ease of use, help / guides > Overview > Final evaluation > Imprint All information for this software comparison is compiled after comprehesive software testing. However, due to the complexity and continuing development of applications we can not assume any guarantee for the accuracy of the information. If you detect any errors or omissions please contact us at literaturverwaltung@ub.tum.de. 2
Key questions to select the right reference management software Answers to many of the following questions can be found in this software comparison document. However, some question will be answered only by testing the programme yourself. Ease of Use / Usability > Do I like the interface? Is it intuitive to me? > Do I easily find the functions I'm looking for? Operating system > Which software can I use with my operating system (Linux, Mac, Windows)? > Which software offers an online version? > Which software offers a mobile version/app? Help > Are there any training courses for beginners? > Are there any materials for self training (e.g. videos, manuals)? > Is there any support if I need help (library, company, IT hotline, forums etc.)? Compatibility > What external programmes should my reference management software support (e.g. word processor) Costs > Does the software cost anything? > Is there a campus licence at my institution (university/company)? > Are there potentially additional costs (e.g. after leaving institution, need for more storage space)? What features should my reference management software offer? > Catalogue and database search from within the programme? > Indexing and structuring of content? > Searching for full text? > PDF editing? > Generating bibliographies? > Managing quotes / ideas? > Online access? > Sharing and/or jointly editing references? > Task planning? > LaTeX support? Where do I usually work? > Do I use always the same computer or do I switch sometimes? > Do I have permission to install software on the computer I use? > What reference management software do my colleagues/collaborators use? 3
General Provider / URL Tested Version Licence Model Open Source, freeware or commercial? Single user or multi user licence? Cost (approx.) Might differ in different countires due to taxation Language Citavi Swiss Academic Software, http://www.citavi.com/ 5.0.0.11 Citavi for Windows > Commercial > Free version "Citavi Free", limited to 100 references per project > Citavi for Windows (single users and small groups) > Citavi for DBServer (large groups and businesses) > Single user licences; student licences; site licences Single user licences (discount for more than 4 licences) > Commercial users from 356 incl. VAT > Academic institutions 237 incl. VAT > Students / Personal use 119 incl. VAT + English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish Colwiz Colwiz PVT. Ltd. Oxford University Start-Up http://www.colwiz.com 3.15.0610 > Free web service + desktop version English Docear Different developers, funded by BMWI http://www.docear.org 1,1 > Free > GPL 2 and BSD Licence -- English, German, French, Dutch... EndNote Thomson Reuters, http://www.endnote.com X7.3.1 > Commercial > Single user licences; Multiple User licences (5 users); Student licences; Campus licences; Business licences; Crossgrades (from Reference Manager to EndNote); Research & Teaching licences > Free version "EndNote Basic" with limited functionality and limited storage space (50,000 references, 20 citation styles, 2 GB storage space, 6 databases) > Single user licence from 210 excl. VAT > Students from 95 excl. VAT > Multiple User licence (5 users) 170 p.p. excl. VAT > Crossgrades (single user) from 85 excl. VAT English JabRef Different developers http://jabref.sourceforge.net/ 2.10 Free web service (with Java Web Start) + open source software (General Public Licence) -- + English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese Mendeley Mendeley Ltd. http://www.mendeley.com 1.13 (Desktop) > Free web service (up to 2 GB) + desktop version > Personal Storage (Plus / Pro / Max) + Team Plans: more storage + more private groups = higher cost > Personal: from 5 GB for 4,99/month to unlimited storage for 14,99/month, one private group > Team Plans: unlimited private groups and storage; from 5 collaborators for 49/month to 50 collaborators for 274/month; for education and non-profit use (double charge for commercial and government use) English RefWorks RefWorks, http://www.refworkscos.com/refworks/ 2.0 > Commercial > Single user licences and campus licences > 30 days trial version Single user licence $ 100/year + English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean Zotero Center for History and New Media at George Mason University, http://www.zotero.org/ 4.0.26.4 Free web service (up to 300 MB) and Open-Source Software (desktop version and Firefox extension) > 2 GB for $ 20/year > 6 GB for $ 60/year > unlimited for $ 120/year Language setting in Firefox (Firefox extension) or of operating system (Standalone version) 4
Technical Specifications Installation Platform / Operating System Mobile App Character Encoding Max. Number of References Max. Online Storage Space Desktop / Web based Unicode / Special characters Citavi > Desktop > Windows > Use on Mac only through simulations of Windows environment no Unicode support + Unlimited (Recommendation: max. 20,000 references per project) -- Colwiz > Desktop > Web based + > Desktop: Windows, Mac, Linux > Web: platform independent > Java and Adobe AIR required + App for Android and ios Unicode support > 5,000 > max. 3 GB (depending on completion of profile, invitation from colleagues, Facebook linking etc.) Docear > Desktop + > Desktop: Windows, Mac, Linux > Java required no Unicode support + Unlimited -- EndNote > Desktop > Web based + > Desktop: Windows, Mac > Web: platform independent + > EndNote for ipad > Synchronisation with EndNote Web > EndNote Web Mobile (Browser version for mobile devices) Unicode support + > Desktop version: unlimited > Web version: unlimted > EndNote Basic: 50,000 references > Web: 5 GB > Basic: 2 GB JabRef > Desktop > Web based + > Desktop: Windows, Mac, Linux > Web: platform independent > Java required For tablets with Windows 8 Unicode support + Unlimited -- Mendeley > Desktop > Web based + > Desktop: Windows, Mac, Linux > Web: platform independent + > Mendeley for iphone / ipod Touch / ipad (limited functionality) > Synchronisation with Web Account Unicode support + Unlimited Free version 2 GB RefWorks > Web based + > Web: platform independent + RefMobile (pared-down RefWorks version) Unicode support + Unlimited Depending on institutional licence (usually 10 GB) Zotero > Firefox Extension > Standalone Version > Web based + > Firefox Extension > Web: platform independent > Standalone Version: Windows, Mac, Linux + > Mobile version of zotero.org > Third party apps, e.g. Zandy, ZotPad Unicode support + Unlimited > Free version 300 MB "file storage" (PDFs etc.) > Unlimited for "data syncing" (references) 5
Import I Database Search Data Import Is database search from within the software supported? What resources are available? Is data import via import filter supported? Which import filters are available? (bibliographic databases and other reference management software) Citavi + Yes > Acces to over 4,700 resources > Access to additional resources can be requested + Yes > 15 reference management software (LiteRat, EndNote, Bibliographix, ProCite etc.) > RIS, BibTeX > approx. 4,700 database specific filters > Editable import for tables or databases > Additional filters can be requested Colwiz + Yes > 30 resources + Yes > Reference management software (Zotero, Mendeley, CiteULike) > RIS, BibTeX Docear EndNote + Yes > Access to over 5,000 resources > Access to additional resources can be requested or downloaded from EndNote website + Yes > RIS, Tab Delimited > over 700 database specific filters JabRef + Yes Access to selected databases (e.g. JSTOR, IEEEXplore, Medline) + Yes > BibTeX, RIS, Tab Delimited, EndNote etc. > Creation of personal import filters supported Mendeley -- + Yes BibTeX, RIS, EndNote XML, Zotero RefWorks + Yes > Access to over 800 resources > Access to additional resources can be requested or added by administrator + Yes > Bibliographix, EndNote > RIS, BibTeX, MAB, MARC > 1,000 database specific filters > Additional filters can be requested Zotero -- + Yes RIS, BibTeX, MODS, RDF, Refer / BibIX etc. 6
Import II Export from Databases Is direct export from databases into software supported? From which databases? Capturing Metadata from Web Pages Other Import Options Full Text Search Is full text search supported? Citavi + Yes Databases with specific export format (e.g. RIS, BibTeX, EndNote); or COinS format + > With Citavi Picker (for Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome): Import of metadata or content from websites > Using ISBN or DOI with Citavi Picker > Capturing of selected text as quote, abstract, table of contents or keyword + > Import of bibliographic data by submitting ISBN, DOI or PubMed-ID > Import from bibliographies > Import from PDFs with Acrobat Picker > PDF documents via Drag & Drop > Import of folders with sub-folders + Yes Colwiz + Yes Databases with specific export format (e.g. RIS, BibTeX) + > With Web Importer (bookmarklet) + > Import of bibliographic data by submitting ISBN, DOI, PubMed-ID or ArXiv ID > Import of folders with sub-folders + Yes (beta version) Docear + Yes All databases with export option in BibTeX format + Import by combining PDF metadata and Google Scholar search EndNote + Yes Direct export supported, see: http://endnote.com/en/onlinedatabases + others + > With Capture-Button: Import of metadata from websites > Bookmarklet / Firefox extension + > Files per Drag & Drop > Folder with sub-folder (keeping folder structure) > Auto import of new documents from auto import folder + Yes, via OpenURL JabRef + Yes All databases with export option in BibTeX format + Import of bibliographic data by submitting DOI. ISBNto-BibTeX feature deactivated since June 2015 Mendeley + Yes Databases with specific export format (e.g. RIS, BibTeX) + > With Web Importer (bookmarklet) > Capturing of website screenshots + > Files and folders per Drag & Drop > Auto import of new documents from "watched folder" > Import of bibliographic data by submitting PubMed ID, ArXiv ID or DOI + Yes, but only from Mendeley's Research Catalog, not in Desktop version RefWorks + Yes Direct export supported, see: http://www.refworkscos.com/refworks/departners/ + With RefGrab-It (completion of metadata) + With subscription to RSS feeds Zotero + Yes Databases with specific export format (e.g. RIS, BibTeX) + > Icons in URL bar; see http://www.zotero.org/translators/ > Capturing screenshot of websites > Bookmarklet for other browsers (Safari, Chrome) + > Files per Drag & Drop > Import of bibliographic data by submitting ISBN, DOI or PubMed ID + Yes, via Google Scholar, CrossRef and OpenURL (other search services can be added; full texts not automatically added) 7
Data Format Document Types Fields Which document types (book, book chapter etc.) are supported? Are user generated document types supported? How many fields are assigned to each document type? Are user generated fields supported? Citavi 35 document types Depends on document type (16-50 fields) Colwiz 15 document types Depends on document type (at least 13 fields) + 9 fields document specific customisable Docear 19 document types Depends on document type; ca. 37 fields EndNote 51 document types + Yes (Modification of available document types / customisation of three "unused" document types) Depends on document type (20-60 fields, incl. "Custom Fields") + 8 "Custom Fields" customisable JabRef 19 document types + Yes (Modification of available document types and creation of new document types) Depends on document type; ca. 37 fields + Unlimited number of fields globally or document specific customisable Mendeley 20 document types Depends on document type; up to 66 fields RefWorks 31 document types Depends on document type; up to 71 fields + 15 free text fields customisable Zotero 33 document types Depends on document type; ca. 25 fields 8
Editing I Indices Completion of Metadata Interconnections Do newly added data (authors, journal titles, keywords) automatically generate term lists / indices? Automatic completion from term lists on data input? Is completion of metadata by using other sources supported? Is interconnection of references supported (e.g. new editions, translations)? Citavi + Yes (keywords, categories, authors, institutions, place published, publishers, journal and newspaper titles, series, libraries) + Yes + Input of ISBN, DOI or PubMed-ID completes bibliographic data and adds book cover + > Edited book and its chapters are linked > Two-way referrals between references within a project are supported Colwiz Yes, only for keywords + > Input of DOI, PubMed-ID or ArXiv ID completes bibliographic data > Completion of metadata from PDFs Docear + Yes (customisable) + Yes + Yes, via the field "Crossref" by using the BibTeX-Key of the parent publication EndNote + Yes (authors, keywords, journal titles); users can create new term lists; pre-defined journal term list available + Yes + Completion of metadata with function "Find Reference Updates" JabRef + Yes (customisable) + Yes + > Input of DOI completes bibliographical data > Per URL of database Citeseer (if already known) > Completion of metadata from PDFs + Yes, via the field "Crossref" by using the BibTeX-Key of the parent publication Mendeley + Yes (authors, keywords, journal titles, tags) + Yes + > Automatic completion of metadata from PDFs > "Needs Review" search in Google Scholar RefWorks + Yes (authors, keywords, journal titles) + Yes + Via RefGrab-It Zotero + Yes (authors, keywords, place published, publisher, journal titles, tags) + Yes + Completion of metadata from PDFs (manually with right click) + Yes, by using the function "Related" 9
Editing II Linking / Integration of Documents Editing Documents (PDFs) Duplicate Checking Global Changes Folders / Groups Is linking / integration of documents supported? Is creation and allocation of folders/groups supported? Citavi + Yes > Commenting and highlighting in PDFs supported > Copying of text blocks as citations to knowledge management area; > Import of images as image citation + Yes + Yes + Yes (categories and groups; within categories multiple levels and multiple allocations possible) Colwiz + Yes, only in desktop version + Annotations and highlighting text supported + Yes, automatically + Yes (multiple levels; automatic allocations and multiple allocations possible) Docear, only relative links supported Only with external editor; then import of comments and highlighting into Mindmaps At import of Bib TeX entries + Yes + Yes (multiple levels; automatic allocations and multiple allocations possible) EndNote + Yes, (absolute links and relative links to copy in project) + Annotations and highlighting text supported + Yes (also customisable) + Yes + Yes (groups; one level; automatic allocations and multiple allocations possible) JabRef, only relative links supported + Yes + Yes + Yes (multiple levels; automatic allocations and multiple allocations possible) Mendeley + Yes + Annotations and highlighting text supported + Yes + Yes + Yes (folders; multiple levels; multiple allocations possible) RefWorks + Yes + Yes ("exact" and "close" duplicates) + Yes + Yes (folders; multiple levels; multiple allocations possible) Zotero + Yes, only with external editors + Yes Only for tags + Yes (folders; multiple levels; automatic allocations and multiple allocations possible) 10
View / Search Viewing Sorting Searching What options to view references are available? (short view / full view / customisable) What options to sort references are available? Is quick search and search in selected field with Boolean operators supported? Search performance? Can searches be saved? Citavi > Tab view (tabs customisable) > List view (formated) > Table view (displayed fields customisable) + Click on field headers or separate sort function by title, year, location or customised + > Quick search > Search in selected fields (both with Boolean operators) + Good + Yes: in catalogues / databases and in own project Colwiz > List view >Table view + Click on field headers or separate sort function > Quick search Prone to errors Yes, but only within session Docear > Short view > Full view + Click on field headers, also sorting by multiple criteria + > Quick search > Advanced search (Boolean operators and general terms can be used) + Good + Yes (as dynamic group) EndNote > List view (customisable) > Preview > Full view + Click on field headers or separate sort function + > Quick search > Advanced search with Boolean operators > Search in attached PDFs and commentaries + Good + Yes JabRef > Short view > Full view + Click on category, also sorting by multiple criteria + > Quick search > Advanced search (Boolean operators and general terms can be used) > Global search within all open databases + Good + Yes (as dynamic group) Mendeley > List view > Citation view (in desktop version) + Click on field headers (in desktop version) + > Quick search by author, title, publication, year, notes (with Boolean operators) > Search in attached PDFs + Good RefWorks > List view > Full view > Short view + Pulldown menu + > Quick search > Search by using controlled vocabulary > Field search + Good + Yes Zotero > List view (customisable) > Timeline view - visualisation with timeline and colour tagging by topic + Click on field headers + > Quick search > Advanced search > Tag search > Search in attached PDFs + Good + Yes 11
Collaboration Sharing Collaboration Social Networking Can reference be shared (read only) with other users? Can multiple users edit references? Citavi + Yes, via email (also PDFs) + > Yes (max. three simultanous users, only on same drive) > for larger groups via Citavi for DBServer Colwiz + > Yes, via email > Sharing of groups and papers in online version (Drive) + Yes, in shared groups + > Communication in interest groups > Sharing of own publications > Creating of own researcher profile > People search > Discussion stream Docear + Yes; warnings and confirmations when changing BibTeX file with references EndNote + Yes, via email (also PDFs) + > Yes, in shared folder in EndNote Web or Share-Library feature in EndNote desktop > Share folder: multiple users have reading and editing permission (only references, not full texts) > Share-Library feature: Users have permission for whole library JabRef + Yes; warnings and confirmations when changing BibTeX file with references Mendeley RefWorks + > Sharing of groups and papers in online version > Yes, via email + Yes, via "RefShare" (only with campus licence) + Yes, in shared groups + > Communication in interest groups > Sharing of own publications > Creating of own researcher profile > People search + Yes in "RefShare" (only with campus licence) Zotero + > Sharing of groups and papers in online version > Sharing of own library in online version + Yes, in shared groups + > Communication in interest groups > Creating of own researcher profile > People search 12
Citing Citation Styles Generating Bibliographies (static) Word Processor Integration Generating Bibliographies (dynamic) What citation styles are available? Are common styles such as MLA, APA, Harvard available? Are citation styles editable? Is export of single (formated) references supported? Can bibliographies be generated and exported as text file? Is export of references into word processors supported? Automatic update of bibliogaphy when adding new reference? Citavi + > More then 3,900 citation styles > New citation styles can be requested from provider (http://www.citavi.com/stylerequest) + Yes + Yes + Yes + > Yes > Word Add-In > "Publication assistant" for OpenOffice, LibreOffice and 8 TeX editors + > Word Add-In: Yes, automatic update > LibreOffice / OpenOffice: No, bibliography is being created and added by formatting of text document > LaTeX: bibliography is being updated at next BibTeX/LaTeX run Colwiz + More than 7,500 citation styles can be added (incl. user generated styles), see: http://www.citationstyles.org + Yes (with Citation Style Editor: editor.citationstyles.org) + Yes, with BibTeX + Yes, with BibTeX + Yes, (with Plug-Ins for Word, OpenOffice, LibreOffice and NeoOffice; automatic LaTeX export) + Yes Docear > Formatting and citation styles with BibTeX > 19 default styles with Word Add-In, another 7,000 styles can be added see BibTeX see BibTeX > see BibTeX > Word Add-In: Yes + Yes (Support for some LaTeX editors and Word Add-In) + > Updating of bibliography after next BibTeX / LaTeX run > Automatic update in Word EndNote + More than 6,000 citation styles installed + Yes + Yes + Yes, (with export function and "Subject Bibliography") + Yes ("Cite While You Write") (Word, Apple Pages, OpenOffice Writer) + Automatic update JabRef Formatting and citation styles with BibTeX see BibTeX see BibTeX see BibTeX + > Yes (Support for some LaTeX editors and external plugin for Word > JabRef 32bit version supports LibreOffice + > Updating of bibliography after next BibTeX / LaTeX run > Automatic update in LibreOffice Mendeley + > 12 citation styles with installation > More then 7,500 styles can be added (incl. user generated and modified styles), see: http://www.citationstyles.org + Yes (with Citation Style Editor: editor.citationstyles.org) + Yes + Yes (with Plug-In for Word and OpenOffice) + Automatic update RefWorks + > More then 1,600 citation styles > New citation styles can be requested + Yes (can also be shared with other RefWorks users) + Yes + Yes + Yes (WriteNCite for Word + Word for Mac; online and offline version); for other word processors: One Line / Cite View + Automatic update Zotero + > 16 citation styles with installation > More then 7,000 styles can be added (incl. user generated and modified styles), see: http://www.zotero.org/styles + Yes (with Citation Style Editor: editor.citationstyles.org/) + Yes + Yes + Yes (Word Plug-In; OpenOffice / LibreOffice extensions) + Automatic update 13
Miscellaneous Export Other Features Remarks Is export of references in specific file format supported? Citavi + Yes (BibTeX, EndNote, RIS); Exports as MS Access file; Export in table formats (.xls,.odt) + Knowledge management: > Adding of personal thoughts / ideas > Categorising of references, quotes and thoughts > Creating of hierarchy within categories > Using Citavi Picker to copy Adobe Acrobat-Reader / Word texts into documents > Task planner (organising of tasks, deadlines etc.) > Auto generation of BibTeX key > Citation Style Finder (supports search for styles also after formatting of single elements in reference) > Automatic renaming of PDFs at import > Automatic back-up of Citavi files when quitting project > Import/ export of categories as mindmap > RSS reader > Installation from USB key possible > Online version planned (incl. Word add-in for Mac) Colwiz + Yes (RIS, EndNote, BibTeX) + > Adding notes to references > Drive application for data sync and messages (Cloud) > Calendar in groups > Task planner > Statistics for own Library > Data sync is often overloaded > Not clear if applications remains free (at the moment option to upgrade for more storage space by providing personal data) Docear + Yes (RIS, EndNote, several HTML and table formats) + > Organising of notes, thoughts and quotes in Mindmaps > Recommender System for literature suggestions (registration required) > Import of PDF annotations into Mindmaps > Generating of hierarchy by exporting Mindmaps in different formats > Task planner with notes and reminders > Reference management only part of software, focus on knowledge management > Knowledge management segment works also with other, external reference management software such as JabRef, Mendeley and Zotero EndNote + Yes (BibTeX, RIS, Tab Delimited) + > "Manuscript Wizard": structuring of documents > Automatic renaming of PDFs at import > "Manuscript Matcher" in EndNote Web: suggesting journals for publication > Support and training through Alfasoft > Integration into other Thomson Reuters products (ISI Web of Science, ResearcherID) JabRef + Yes (BibTeX, RIS, EndNote, XML) + > Auto generation of BibTeX key > Export filter editor > 5-level ranking, 3-level prioritisation and relevance marking as well as quality marking > Batch processing of multiple datasets > Creation and addition of plug-ins possible > Mobile version available Mendeley + Yes (BibTeX, RIS, EndNote XML) + > Synchronisation of BibTeX file supported Number of downloads is being used for Altmetrics services (altmetric.com, ImpactStory, etc.) RefWorks + Yes (BibTeX, RIS, Tab Delimited, RefWorks Tagged, XML) > Chapter structure reflected in folder structure Campus licence: > Administrator area for institutional settings > Usage statistics > RSS feeds > Subscription based "RefAware Awareness Service" can be added; see http://www.refaware.com/ Zotero + Yes (BibTeX, RIS, MODS, RDF) + > Generating of reference independent notes > Colour tagging > Many plug-ins available > Regular back-up recommended > RSS feeds 14
Ease of Use Performance Ease of Use Help / Guides Speed, response time How intuitive is user interface? What help / guides are available? Citavi + Good + Very good (very intuitive; individual steps and options are explained) + > Getting Started Guide > Manual > Manual for academic work > Videos and slide shows > Very good context sensitive help (customisable / editable) > Forum > Ticket system > Chat > Trainer network Colwiz Ok + Good, focus is on Mac users + > Online help pages > "Getting Started Guide" > Feedback forum Docear Unstable for larger PDF collections Ease of use is medium, confusing; Word Add-In is intuitive > Online manual and FAQ > User forum EndNote + Good > Ease of use is medium - many functions rather "technical", need for explanation (e.g. input field, RIS export, syntax for citation style customisation) > Two share options at different location in programme are confusing + > Manual > Manual for academic work > Online training docments > Online tutorials > Mailinglist (only english); forum > Phone support (Mo-Fr 9.00-13.00) > E-Mail support JabRef + Good + Good (designed for LaTeX users) > Online help pages and FAQ > User forum Mendeley + Good + Good + > Online help pages > "Getting Started Guide" > Feedback forum > Video tutorials RefWorks + Good + Good + > Manuals for beginners, advanced and experts > Online help pages > Tutorials, YouTube channel > Email and phone support > Online help > Online training Zotero + Good + Good > Video tutorials (e.g. Quick Start Guide) > Help pages > Forum with large community 15
Overview Licence Model Commercial Free Installation Desktop Web based Operating System Windows Mac OS Linux Mobile App Database Search Data Import Export from Databases Capturing of Metadata from Web Pages Other Import Options Completion of Metadata Linking of References Duplicate Checking Folders and Groups Sharing Privately or Publicly Jointly Editing Social Networking Separate Bibliographies Word Processor Intergration Intuitive User Interface Citavi Colwiz + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Docear + + + + + + + + + + + + EndNote JabRef Mendeley RefWorks Zotero + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 16
Final Evaluation Criteria for Evaluation Citavi > Licence model and price > Platform / Operating system > Database search > Import options > Full text search > Completion of metadata > Attaching / integrating of documents > Sharing, jointly editing > Social networking options > Word processor integration > Other features > Ease of use > Help, guides Under "Strength" and "Weakness" we have listed features which stand out very positive or negative. Strength Weakness User Group For which user group is the software appropriate? + Commercial and free version with full functionality (limited to 100 references per Windows only (XP no longer supported) project) online version + Full text search Bibliography will be added after formatting + Comprehensive knowledge management and task planning + Jointly editing in small teams using the same drive supported; for larger groups external server and Citavi DBServer + Very intuitive interface + Extensive help options and very good individual support + Easy to use Word Add-In with useful functions + Citation Style Finder > Windows users > Beginners to professionals Colwiz + Platform independen and free Prone to errors (synchronisation) > All user groups, very intuitive + Many collaboration options: Calendar, drive, groups, profile References limited to 5,000 + Usability OpenURL + App for ios and Android Import of some data (txt, XML, etc.) could be problematic + Synchronisation Only Quick search within own library + PDF reader with many editing tools Docear + Platform independent (Windows, Mac, Linux) Relatively high learning curve + Open Source, free + Very good for excerpting and structuring of literature Reduced functionality in reference management compared to original JabRef + Good Word integration > Needs some experience with reference management software and some computer "savvyness" due to complexity of programm. > Aimed at users who use PDF annotations EndNote + For Windows and Mac t very intuitive + Web version free for subscribers to Web of Science and with purchase of desktop version Web version: documents can not be shared between members of a shared group (only references) + Free web version EndNote Basic (limited functionality) Full text sharing only via email + Full text search + Manuscript Matcher to search for appropriate jourals for publication Confusing share options for groups and libraries with different sharing permissions + ipad app + Automated import of PDFs supported + Search in metadata, full text PDF and PDF comments supported > Windows and Mac users > With some training for all user groups 17
Criteria for Evaluation > Licence model and price > Platform / Operating system > Database search > Import options > Full text search > Completion of metadata > Attaching / integrating of documents > Sharing, jointly editing > Social networking options > Word processor integration > Other features > Ease of use > Help, guides Under "Strength" and "Weakness" we have listed features which stand out very positive or negative. Strength Weakness User Group JabRef + Desktop and web based version read-only or full sharing option + Platform independent (Windows, Mac, Linux) + Good integration with several LaTeX editors + Ranking, relevance and priority data + Open Source, free Mendeley + Desktop and web based version database seach from within the programme For all user groups + Platform independent (Windows, Mac, Linux) Creation of bibliographies only with cut & paste + Free (up to 2 GB storage) Sharing of documents with wider public could become + Collaboration in groups + Social networking features + One of the data sources for altmetrics services copyright issue. Check copyright legistlation in your country. RefWorks + Platform independent and web based + Easy to use Word Add-In Attaching of documents (images, PDFs) only with campus licence + Comprehensive help editing of full texts; no import of quotes from database + Collaboration in RefShare possible Zotero + Desktop version, Firefox extension and web based database seach from within the programme + Platform independent (Windows, Mac, Linux) editing of full texts + Open Source, free + Social Networking; sharing of papers in groups + Creation of separate notes (unrelated to references) For all user groups > For undergraduates (free) > For smaller reference collections > All research areas 18
Imprint Content: Dorothea Lemke Universitätsbibliothek der Technischen Universität München Arcisstr. 21 80333 München Email: literaturverwaltung@ub.tum.de Tel.: 089 / 289-28644 Translation: Michael Ladisch University College Dublin Library, Ireland Disclaimer: All information for this software comparison is compiled after comprehesive software testing. However, due to the complexity and continuing development of applications we can not assume any guarantee for the accuracy of the information. If you detect any errors or omissions please contact us at literaturverwaltung@ub.tum.de. 19